Spectacles.



J'. 0. WELLS.

SPEGTAGLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1911.

1,036,530; Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

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T 0 all whom it may concern:

'Ile it known that I, Joel; C. WELLS, a. citizen of the United States, residing at Southbridge, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spectacles, of which the following is a specification.

an; invention relates to improvements in spectacles and has for its object to provide an improved construction of flexible temple.

'M invention comprises a temple side having a portion thereof coiled in the form of a flat helix.

The principal obj'ectof my invention is to provide a temple having minimum weightwith maximum elasticity and bearing surface.

Another object of my invention 'is to eliminate the diiliculty usually found in the manufacture of helical temples of attaching the coiled portion to the. temple. i

Another'object of my invention is to provide a flexible temple, the convolutions of which will present a smooth continuous surface instead of the corrugated surface usual with such temples.

Another object of my invention is to simplify and cheapen the construction of flexiole temples.

Another obj vide-a flexible face-which may be manufactured from a single piece of stock.

Vfith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, delineated in the drawings and specifically claimed, it being understood that changes properly falling within the scope of what is claimed maybe made without despirit of my invention. Similar numerals of reference are employed to denote corresponding parts throughout the several figures of my drawing.

Figure I is a perspective view of a tempie involving my invention. Fig. II is a view similar to Fig.1 showing a modification ect of my invention is toiproshowing wherein the flexihleear hook is attached to the side, the pointot' attachment being shown in section. Fig. III shows temple blank. a portion thereof having been reduced for, but not yet coiled into the cable portion. Fig. IV is a section on line IV-IV, F ig. III. F ig. V is a. section on line VV, Fig. III. Fig. VI shows a. pot-- temple of large bearing z sur- Specification Letters'iatent. Application filed May 10, 1911. Serial No. 626,235.

vided if desired and a multiple cable piece,

a, i a g Us sate-ates. su 43w Heft 3.

tion of the cable end coiled around a Fig. VII shows a portion of the coiled without the use of core. Fi shows in two views portions of a split blank, one view shows flexible end and the other shows these split ends on Referring specifically to the drawings: the stock or body 1, from which the temple is constructed is reduced or flattened through a portion 2, Figs. III and IV. duced section is then coiled into the form, of a helix as shown in Figs. VI and VII and the end finished oft with a knob or ball as shown in Figs. I and II. The opposite end of the stock is reduced to form the ear hoot; 4,. Figs. I, II and III, which adapted to form a. part of the usual lunged join attached to the lens strap of a pair o pectacles. If desired the reduced portion? of the temple blank may be split as shown in Fig. VIII and the strands, so formed, twisted into a cable. In Fig. VIII only two strands are shown but more could be proproduced.

I have shown a temple end or ear hook constructed of flat material or of flattened reduced Cross section and it will be seen that ahelix formed with material having such a cross section possesses many advantages. A greater bearing surface is provided with minimum increase of weight; this insures comfort to the wearer, reducing the tendency of the temples to cut into the flesh. Being coiled into a helix, flexibility is obtained, ivheiehy' thc temple is allowed to adjust itself to the wearer. The material being flat, insures a smooth nearing surface free from the corrugations usual with helical temples made of rounded stool; and consequently produces a surface less liable to irritate the skin. Still another advantage lies in the fact that these advantages are obtained while at the time the Weight of the temple has been reduced from that usual in flexible temples made of stool; of rounded cross section. The Hat helix may be wound on a core or not, depend q upon the amount of rigidity desired. is desired a core may be inserted in me coil of the helix, as shown in Fig. V

The entire temple may he made of one one end being reduced and coiled. as shown in Fig. I, or the helix may be m separate and swaged within the temple saw, as shown in Fig. II.

I am aware that prior to my invention comfort or cable temples have been made either by Winding a coil or helix of-roun'ded cross section around the usual straight temple a core,'or by winding several strands of rounded stock one over theot-her on the temple as a core, but such temples are heavy and corrugated and difiiculty has been experienced with these'constructions in trying to properly secure the ends of the coils in lace on the temple- I accordingly do not c iaim such a construction but I do not believe-that prior to my invention tem ples have been made of flattened stock or integrally with the side wires as described herein The use of a ball or tip'on the end of spectacles is also old and I do not claim the use of same as-a part of this invention,

Itisto be noted that the cross section of the cable portion may be reducedto practically any thickness or weight and also that v with flat stock a coil can-be constructed without reducing the side by merely coiling the liable to cut the ear and irritate the'we'arer.

In a construction such as I have described, itwill be seen that the trouble of securing the free ends of the cable coil has been eliminated; a smooth flexible bearing surface has been provided; a neat and finished appearance maintained; the cost of production reduced, and minimum Weight maintained.

Various methods of arranging and plac- 'ing the coils may be devised without de-. .parting from the spiri'tof my invention. I,

therefore, do not desire to be limited to the exact details s hown.

Having thus described my invention, the following is what I claim as-new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

spectacle temple including a side"- portion and an ear hook formedfrom a flat-- tened piece of material wound in a hollow smooth helix adapted to present-a. largebearing surface while of light Weight and great flexibility. v

"2. A blank for a spectacle temple comprising a side portion and a flattened terminal portion adapted to be wound into -a lzollow spiral to form anear-hook. i 3. A spectacle temple comprising ajsid portion of circular shape in cross section terminating in'an integral flattened portion wound to form a tubularear hook, the edges of the flat material being in close engagenient with each other whereby theear hook is of minimum weight and presents a wide smooth bearing surface to the ear: of the wearer. 1 I v 4. Atemple for spectacles comprising a,

body-portion, and anintegral. coiledsect-ion;

the material forming the coiled portion be: ing flat so that the convolutions thereof produce a smooth surface.

In testimony whereof,'I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I L JOEL' C. WELLS. Witnesses: I

PAUL T. TRUEMAN, HAnnY H. STYLL. 

